Mail pouch



Nov. 27, 1923.

E. J. SHERIDAN MAIL POUCH Filed June 6, 1.922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 27, 1923.

E. J. SHERIDAN MAIL POUCH Filed June 6, '1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iiiluymaljflendm arena: eerie.

EUGENE J. SHERIDAN, 0F R-OCKLILND, NEW "ZOE-li MAIL POUCH.

Application filed June 6,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that T, EUGENE J. SHERIDAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Livingston Manor, town of Rockland, in the county of Sullivan and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Pouches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in a collapsible pouch capable of use in various fields, although particularly applicable for use by rural mail carriers. 1

It is an object'of the invention to provide a mail pouch that is divided into a plurality of individual pockets or compartments'each compartment being adaptedto receive the assorted mail of one or more addressees along the carriers routev With the foregoing conception in mind the invention aims to provide a pouch of a collapsible nature wherein diagonal partitions are provided to divide the same into compartments, said diagonal partitions permitting each compartment to be materially expanded as the occasion may require to receivevarying quantities of mail that should be contained in certain compartments to be left with different parties or addressees along the route. 7

While the invention provides a pouch which is susceptible of use by carriers for delivering all kinds of merchandise or packages, it is, however, particularly useful to rural mail carriers in view of the fact that each addressee or groups of addressees along a particular route have certain designated compartments in a pouch and when assort ing the mail in the postofiice the same is at that time placed in its appropriate pocket for delivery, so that when the mail man reaches different addresses'along his route no further assortment of the mail need be resorted to, as he only removes the previ ously assorted mail from the appropriate pockets for delivery. This obviously eliminates the danger of carrying-mail beyond the proper points for delivery or losing the same because of frequent sorting.

lit is a further object of the invention to provide a collapsible mail pouch having a plurality of compartments with flaps overlying the compartments and receiving the names of different addressees along a particular route whereby when the flaps are opened the mail man instantly perceive the pocket designated by a name plate on the 1922. Serial no; 566,271.

adjoining flaps, as containing mail for a particular individual. i

This of course serves to minimize mistakes because the mail man is not required to use his memory alone for removing the proper mail for the different addressees along his route.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a novel construction and combination of parts,- as will be iore fully hereinafter described and claimed.

Tnthe' drawings Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved pouch;

Figure 2 is a sectional view; and, Figures 3, 4 and 5 are detail views. Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, the numeral 1 designates a pouch, which is composed of cloth, leather orother flexible material. The pouch has a bottom 2, end walls 3 and side walls 4:- The side walls at are preferably composed of vertical sectional strips l which are joined together along their vertical edges by stitching or the like. The walls are all united by stitching or otherwise and the pouch is preferably one that has no metallic or other firm structure. Extending parallel with the end walls 8 are a plurality of main partitions 5 dividing the interior of the pouch into a plurality of parallel spaces. These partitions are of flexible material and are preferably spaced apart equal distancesthroughout the length of the side walls of the receptacle. They are secured to the side walls by means of stitching 6 and are likewise secured at their lower ends by stitching 7, to the bottom 2. Any number of these vertical partitions may be used in keeping with the size of the pouch desired, and they manifestly can be spaced apart varying distances in accordance with the use of the pouch. lVith these vertical partitions, it is manifest that the bag may be folded or collapsed whenever thesame is not in use. p

The partitions as previously stated, divide the interior of the pouch into aplurality of horizontal parallel pockets, and inasmuch as a pocket extending from one side to the other of the pouch is too much space to be allotted to a single addressee or individual along a route and to provide a substantial number of compartments so that a great number of people can have individual com partments in the pouch, I employ cross partitions 8, which divide each parallel pocket into two compartments 9 and 10. The partitions 8 are diagonally disposed with reference to the main partitions 5. It will be observed that these partitions are connected to one of the end walls or one of the main partitions 5 well beyond the center thereof, as indicated by the character 11, extending diagonally from this point of connection and at their opposite end are connected to an adjacent partition as indicated by the character l2, materially beyond the center thereof. The function of the diagonal partitions is to permit the compartments 9 and 10 to be expanded maximum distances when the pouch is in use so as to enable the mail man to accommodate varying quantities of mail and also mail of varying sizes. If any compartment only has a small quantity of mail, then the cross partition in said compartment will contract so that the pouch will not present a bulky appearance, but should the occasion demand that any pocket receive substantial quantity of mail, said pocket can be expanded a maximum distance in view of the diagonal arrangement of the cross partitions8. One of the salient features or" this invention resides in the cover flaps 18 and 14 which extend from each side of the receptacle. These flaps are adapted to meet when mail is not being deposited into or removed from the receptacle to form a closure for the upper ends of the compartments. However, the flaps on their under surfaces adjacent each compartment are marked with th name and address of the person who is to receive the mail in the adja cent compartment. As diclosed by the reference character 16, the flaps bear the appropriate name and addresses of the individuals along the particular route, and said names and addresses are exposed when. the flaps are open, as they are carried on theunder side thereof. Each pocket therefore has immediately adjacent the same the name and address or the party who is to receive the mail in the adjacent pocket. This eliminates the danger of depending upon the memory of the mail man in delivering the appropriate mail from a pocket to the proper person, as he always has in view the names of the addressees along his route acent each pocket when the flaps 13 and are open.

The invention herein disclosed is susceptible of use not only by mail carriers, but by any carrier designed to deliver a multitude of packages. It is highly desirable, however, for use by mail carriers in that a. mail man at the sorting station in the post oilice, sorts the mail addressed to persons along his route by placing the mail of different addrcssees in the respective pockets in his pouch, which pockets are designated by the names disposed on the flaps 1'3 and 14. The mail is thus sorted at the post office and as the mail man reaches di .erent addresses along; his route no further sorting is necessary, as he merely removes the mail from the appropriate compartment and deposits them as required. This eliminates the danger of improperly leaving the mail and also saves that large amount of time which the mail man now loses when continuously sorting the mail when he reaches dil ferent addresses along his route. The construction of the container or pouch with the diagonal walls permits the formation of pockets which may be materially expanded as the occasion may require, so that both large and small quantities of mail may be taken care of with the use of a single pouch. 1

As appreciated by all, a mail man frequently meets patrons on his route at different points and in using this pouch, if he desires to serve such patrons out of their order, it does not necessitate a complete sorting of the mail. r le merely loolrs into the pockets or compartment which should contain the mail of this patron and hands the same to him without any sorting whatever. As is also appreciated, the compart ments by reason of their diagonal partitions are suiiicient to contain both registered mail, packages and letter, so that this mail is not scattered as frequently happens with the present day pouch. lVhen the pouch is empty the same can be folded so as to occupy little space and may be rolled into a small package, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A pouch of the character described having suitable side and end walls, a plurality of main partitions extending across said pouch and a subpartition disposed between each pair of main partitions to divide the pouch into a plurality of compartments, said subpartitions being diagonally arranged wherein each compartment may be materially extended.

2. A pouch of the character described, comprising suitable walls, parallel main partitions connected with certain of said walls and extending across the pouch, and a diagonally disposed cross partition of flexible material interposed between adjacent parallel main. partitions. V

3. A pouch composed of flexible material having side and end walls, a plurality oi partitions extending parallel with the end walls dividing said pouch into a plurality of spaces, and cross partitions positioned between said side walls and said parallel partitions for forming compartments in said pouch, flaps adapted to normally close a portion of said compartments, and indicating means carried on the under side of said flaps adjacent each compartment.

4. A pouch of the character described, projecting from the side Walls, said flaps composed of flexible material and having being adapted to receive indicating data for 10 suitable side and end Walls, a bottom for designating the owner of the material consaid pouch a plurality of main partitions tained in each compartment adjacent said 5 extending roin each side Wall parallel With indicating data.

the end Walls, subpartitions interposed be- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

tween the main partitions to divide the receptacle into compartments, hinged flaps EUGENE J. SHERIDAN. 

